FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT JOB GUIDE

FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT JOB GUIDE

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF

INVESTIGATION

Personnel Office

Department of Justice

633 Indiana Avenue, NW

Washington DC 20531

(202) 724-7725

The FBI is the law enforcement arm of the Department of

Justice. It investigates federal crimes such as bank robbery,

organized crime, civil rights violations, kidnapping, terrorism,

drug violations, and hundreds of other categories. The FBI has 59

field offices around the country. The FBI has the following

career paths available to Special Agents:

* ACCOUNTING - Requires a college degree with a major in

accounting. All applicants to this career path must be qualified to

take the CPA examination.

* ENGINEERING/SCIENCE - Requires at least a BS degree in

mechanical, computer science, or electrical engineering. Other

science related four-year degrees may also be accepted.

* LANGUAGE - Requires a four-year college degree. The applicant

must be fluent in at least one foreign language as determined by

the FBI.

* LAW - Requires a law degree from an accredited law school.

* DIVERSIFIED - Requires a Bachelor's or advanced degree in

any field of study. The applicant must have two to three years of

work experience, depending on the degree held.

Special Agents enter the service at the GS-10 level. Supervisory

positions are available up to and including the GS-18 level.

The FBI also has several non-agent positions available in the

following fields:

Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Cryptology, Languages,

Photography and Physics. Entry to the positions is at the GS5-7

level. These positions require four-year degrees.

The agency also has various clerical positions available.

Applicants for the position of Special Agent must be at least 23

years of age but must not have reached their 35th birthday.

Applicants must be a citizen of the United States and must be in

excellent physical condition.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE

BORDER PATROL AGENT

Border Patrol Agents are responsible for enforcing the immigration

laws of the United States. Agents patrol to check for illegal

border crossings, operate vehicle check points, inspect trains,

ships, aircraft, etc. for immigration violations, and perform

other duties. Entry level openings usually require duty along the

border of the United States and Mexico in Arizona, Texas,

California and New Mexico.

GENERAL EXPERIENCE (GS/5 LEVEL)

Applicants must have one year of volunteer or paid experience

comparable in difficulty to the GS/4 level. This experience must

show your ability to learn law enforcement methods, etc. One year

of college study leading to a bachelor's degree may be substituted

for three months of general experience; two years for six months;

three years for nine months; and four years for the entire year of

general experience.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE (GS/7 LEVEL)

Applicants must have one year of law enforcement experience

equivalent to the GS/5 level. An advanced degree in law or a law

enforcement related field can be substituted for the whole year of

specialized experience.

The maximum entry age for Border Patrol Agents is 37. Applicants

may not have passed their 37th birthday at time hired. This age

limit may be extended if the applicant has previous federal

civilian law enforcement experience.

Applicants must know or be able to learn Spanish.

Applicants must pass a written test and a test to determine the

applicant's ability to learn Spanish. A Spanish oral test is

given to those applicants who speak Spanish. Applicants must

also submit to a pre-employment physical and interview.

A thorough background investigation will be conducted on all

applicants.

New agents are appointed to the GS/5 or GS/7 level. Promotions to

the GS/9 level are possible. Promotions to higher grades are

through "servicewide" competition.

Prospective applicants can receive an OPM Form 5000-AB Test

Scheduling Card from any Federal Job Information Center listed

under "U.S. Government" in the telephone directory. Applicants

may also call the "College Hotline" at 1-900-990-9200. There is a

per minute charge for "900" number calls.

U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE

Lincoln Place

600 Army-Navy Drive

Arlington, VA 22202

(202) 307-9400

The Marshals Service is also an arm of the Department of Justice.

The Service provides security in federal courts, serves federal

court orders, apprehends and transports federal prisoners,

administers the Witness Security Program, and other duties. The

beginning position is the Deputy U.S. Marshal at the GS 5/7

level. This position requires a Bachelor's degree.

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Personnel Staffing Specialist

Personnel Division, Rm 1215

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20226

(202) 566-7321

The ATF enforces all federal laws relating to alcohol, tobacco and

firearms, including explosives and arson. The ATF also inspects

breweries, wineries, explosives plants and other related

industries. Entry is at the GS 5/7 level and requires a

Bachelor's degree.

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE

1301 Constitution Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20229

Office of Human Resources

2120 L Street, Room 7402

Washington, DC 20229

(202) 634-5025

This agency controls the entry of merchandise into this country.

It investigates fraudulent crimes and activities that defraud the

U.S. Government of revenue. It investigates the illegal

importing and exporting of drugs, currency, arms and the exporting

of technology. Applicants to this agency are subjected to a

thorough background investigation. Entry is at the GS 5/7 level

and requires a Bachelor's degree.

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

SECRET SERVICE

Chief of Staffing

1800 G Street, NW

Washington, DC 20223

(202) 535-5800

The Secret Service is charged with protecting the President, Vice

President, former presidents, visiting heads of foreign countries,

and their families. The Secret Service also enforces all laws

concerning counterfeiting and forgery of government checks and

other related criminal activities. The Service is also

responsible for White House security. Entry is at the GS 5/7

level and requires a Bachelor's degree.